Our guide to spending Chinese New Year in Penang – what to see and do, and what to expect during the holidays. Chinese New Year in Malaysia is something very special and I can highly recommend spending CNY, as it’s often written, on the island of Penang. Penang’s an amazing place to visit all year round – regular readers will know I’m a big fan of the island and particularly its food – but spending Chinese New Year here is an amazing experience, as there’s a variety of special new year celebrations that take place across the island. When is…

If you want an authentic taste of Thai island life then Koh Jum is the place for you. The region of Krabi, Thailand is a well-known tourist hot spot thanks to its amazing tropical islands and bathwater-warm, light blue sea. However, many of Krabi’s beaches and the islands off its coast – such as Railay, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta – have become the victims of over-tourism and in my opinion have lost some of their personality and authenticity. Here people fight over a free spot of sand to sunbathe and as you walk along the beach you’ll pass…

At first sight, Bangkok is an incomprehensible, sprawling metropolis of some 8 million, a chaotic capital of dust, humidity and tuk-tuk traffic made for daredevils. However, once you look beyond the obvious distractions, Bangkok has a uniquely astonishing beauty and grace – as well as an incredible foodie culture. In the early morning, see the wet and humid mist lift from the Chao Phraya River; revealing the golden spiralling towers of the Grand Palace and the many other temples glistening across the horizon. Look closer and you’ll see the little details that present life here with a deep spiritual significance:…

Discover eight of the best night markets in Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital city, offering everything from fake designer goods and vintage clothes through to boutique shops and hipster eateries. Whenever I visit South East Asia I always have to search out the best night markets. There’s something about the bustle of the crowds, the hawkers vying for your attention, and oh, the amazing street food, that has me hooked. Shopping after dark has always felt a little exotic to me as I’m used to UK markets, which close way before the sun goes down. So when I think of night…

It’s been fun reminiscing over the unique experiences we’ve had in Thailand, and reminded us of how great a country it is to visit. Although we loved exploring its temples and palaces, some of our most memorable experiences have been a little more unconventional, so we thought it would be fun to share with you some of the quirkier Thailand experiences we’ve had so far… Going on a nightly crab watch We’ve all got our ‘special places’ in Thailand and mine is Koh Jum. Visiting for my 40th birthday, we splashed out and stayed at Koh Jum Beach Villas, where…

Cheap resorts in the Maldives are few and far between, but it is possible to find a hidden gem of affordable luxury amongst the overpriced over-water bungalows and the amazing, but extortionate, underwater restaurants. Our amazing find was the Rahaa resort in the south of the Maldives on Laamu Atoll. Maldives hotel and flight package Now, full disclosure, an amazing Maldives resort deal isn’t going to be anything like as cheap as two weeks off-season in Costa de Sol, but with a bit of time and effort we were able to book ourselves an all-inclusive 12-night stay for two –…

Visitors looking for afternoon tea in Bangkok are spoilt for choice, as not only do the majority of the city’s high end hotels offer high tea of some kind, there are many cute little independents who’ve also got in on the trend. However, during my recent trip to the Thai capital the one that really caught my attention was afternoon tea at the Grand Hyatt’s Erawan Tea Room. This was because the tea room actually sits right above the city’s iconic Erawan Shrine, giving you a super special setting for your afternoon tea. The Grand Hyatt’s Erawan Tea Room One…